Мгла
An Argument with Norton. A Discussion Near the Beer Cooler. Verification.
SomethingthathadbeenintheireyeswhentheywerefixingtosendNormouttounplugtheexhaustventhadgonenow.Theirpeckerswerenolongerup.
"We’regoingtohavetotellthesepeoplesomething,"Isaid.
Jimopenedhismouthtoprotest.
"OllieandIwillleaveoutanypartyouandMyronhadinsendingNormoutthereifyou’llbackupwhatheandIsayabout...well,aboutwhatgothim."
"Sure,"Jimsaid,pitifullyeager."Sure,ifwedon’ttell,peoplemightgooutthere...likethatwoman...thatwomanwho..."Hewipedhishandacrosshismouthandthendrankmorebeerquickly."Christ,whatamess."
"David,"Olliesaid."What-"Hestopped,thenmadehimselfgoon."Whatiftheygetin?Thetentacles?"
"Howcouldthey?"Jimasked."Youguysshutthedoor."
"Sure,"Olliesaid."Butthewholefrontwallofthisplaceisplateglass."
Anelevatorshotmystomachdownabouttwentyfloors.Ihadknownthat,buthadsomehowbeensuccessfullyignoringit.IlookedoveratwhereBilly-layasleep.IthoughtofthosetentaclesswarmingoverNorm.IthoughtaboutthathappeningtoBilly.
"Plateglass,"MyronLaFleurwhispered."JesusChristinachariot-drivensidecar."
Ileftthethreeofthemstandingbythecooler,eachworkingasecondcanofbeer,andwentlookingforBrentNorton.Ifoundhiminsober-sidedconversationwithBudBrownatRegister2.Thepairofthem-Nortonwithhisstyledgrayhairandhiselderly-studgoodlooks,BrownwithhisdourNewEnglandphiz-lookedlikesomethingoutofaNewYorkercartoon.
